Following reports of at least 16 crashes, NHTSA has opened a safety investigation into the Tesla Summon system.

Tesla is the target of yet another federal safety probe, the fourth currently open by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation. Today’s trouble concerns the automaker’s “Smart Summon” and “Actually Smart Summon” features, which allow Tesla drivers to remotely control their vehicles via a smartphone app.

At least in theory, that is. In practice, NHTSA says it’s aware of multiple crash allegations “where the user had too little reaction time to avoid a crash, either with the available line of sight or releasing the phone app button, which stops the vehicle’s movement.”

Worse yet, Tesla has failed to report any of these incidents to the safety regulator, which has a standing general order that requires any automaker or operator of autonomous or partially automated vehicles to report crashes involving such systems that occur on publicly accessible roads.

  • ZeppoEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    Worth noting that Elron claimed in 2016 they’d have this tech ready to drive a car across the entire country by the next year.

    “Our goal is, and I feel pretty good about this goal, that we’ll be able to do a demonstration drive of full autonomy all the way from LA to New York, from home in LA to let’s say dropping you off in Time Square in New York, and then having the car go park itself, by the end of next year,” he said on a press call today. “Without the need for a single touch, including the charger.”

    Things the type of thing he has done for years to pump up Tesla’s stock price. It’s been over 8 years since he said that. The system doesn’t seem technologically ready to drive 4 blocks down a street unmonitored, much less 3000 miles. I’m sure “doge” will recommend removing the regulatory hurdles though.